Port Edward to Petit - Mission Complete !

[Rudix]

Hi Everyone,

The trip is on to ferry the Rans S12, ZU-AEN from Port Edward to Petit this weekend (2,3,4... Feb 2007). The plan is to fly down to Margate (commercial) early Friday afternoon, spend some time checking the plane and getting to know it before leaving Saturday morning WX permitting. If the WX is bad on Saturday, Sunday is plan B and so on. Lets hope for the best !

I will be taking a decent camera along so expect some photos :D

The plan is to fly via Margate, if the WX looks good will follow the coast till close to Durban before turning inland, else head straight for Cato or Oribi. From there to Escort, Harrismith and then Heidelberg and Petit. Possible refuel stops are Oribi, Estcourt and Heidelberg depending on the wind. The plane has a 85l tank so range is not too bad.

Hope to see a few of the microlighters.co.za along the way, I have a few numbers so some might get a call

Anyone interested in flying along, even if it is just for a short distance? I would love to take some air to air photos !

This is what she looks like:



Hope to see you out there....
Regards,
Rudi

[The Agent]

Sterkte want dis n groot job wat voorle.

[Rudix]

Sterkte want dis n groot job wat voorle.

Dankie ! Sal maar sien hoe dit gaan, kan altyd oorslaap is die weer te sleg raak, dis sommer 'n oefen lopie vir die BunduBash later in die jaar Dis nou as ek nog in vlieg belang stel na die trip

Groete,
Rudi

[Willie]

Wragtag pragtag Maak net seker of Durban jou gaan toelaat. Ek dink jy moet liewer reguit van Margate na Oribi toe vlieg. Daar is heelwat bos strips onderweg. Die weer het my eendag by Oribi Gorge met die Hatz vasfgedruk toe land ek in die Sapi plantasie. lekker gekuier en perd gery in die kloof en weer die volgende oggend verder.
Geniet dit en vat jou tyd en lewe lank. Vlieg net tot waar dit lig en veilig genoeg is. :D

[Rudix]

Wragtag pragtag Maak net seker of Durban jou gaan toelaat. Ek dink jy moet liewer reguit van Margate na Oribi toe vlieg. Daar is heelwat bos strips onderweg. Die weer het my eendag by Oribi Gorge met die Hatz vasfgedruk toe land ek in die Sapi plantasie. lekker gekuier en perd gery in die kloof en weer die volgende oggend verder.
Geniet dit en vat jou tyd en lewe lank. Vlieg net tot waar dit lig en veilig genoeg is. :D

Hi Willie,

Dankie ! Ja, dit sal seker beter wees om direk na Oribi te vlieg, sou graag die kus so 'n bietjie wil verken maar dit kan later gebeur. Ek stem, sal seker maak dat dit veilig is, sal eerder land en wag as dinge nie lekker is nie, vlieg is veronderstel om lekker te wees !

Hoop om een van die dae daar in jou rigting te kom kuier, sal graag na daai mooi versameling van jou wou kom kyk en 'n paar fotos neem, het jy al die suier (?) vir die Limbach gekry?

Groete,
Rudi

[Splitter]

Ons het dit al gedoen.

Port Edward op kus langs tot by Scottburgh dan Howick dan Petrol by Estcourt dan Ladysmith dan Frankfort en dan na waar ook al.

Pragtige roete. Oorslaap by Ladysmith is ook gerieflik teen die lughawe en die ouens van Ladysmith baie hulpvaardig. Hulle kan ook reel vir brandstof.

[Willie]

[/quote]

het jy al die suier (?) vir die Limbach gekry?

Groete,
Rudi[/quote]
Nee maar ek laat nou ringe maak want die suier is nog goed genoeg ( toe ek dit weer meet) Jy is welkom om te kom kuier. :D

[Rudix]

Ons het dit al gedoen.

Port Edward op kus langs tot by Scottburgh dan Howick dan Petrol by Estcourt dan Ladysmith dan Frankfort en dan na waar ook al.

Pragtige roete. Oorslaap by Ladysmith is ook gerieflik teen die lughawe en die ouens van Ladysmith baie hulpvaardig. Hulle kan ook reel vir brandstof.

Dankie vir die inligting, dit klink goed !

Ek het gehoor die oorslaap by Ladysmith is 'n goeie opsie, sal dit probeer inpas as ons al Saterdag kan vertrek. As die weer mooi is wil ek graag sommer so 'n paar draaie vlieg om die wêreld te bekyk.

Groete,
Rudi

[Rudix]

Nee maar ek laat nou ringe maak want die suier is nog goed genoeg ( toe ek dit weer meet) Jy is welkom om te kom kuier. :D

Dis goeie nuus ! Ek hoop jy kry hom sommer gou weer aan die loop.

Dankie, ek sal verseker 'n plan maak en daar kom draai

Groete,
Rudi

[Rudix]

Hi Everyone,

Well, the RANS S12 is finally home ! Not only is it home but it was GREAT fun getting it here :D

The weather forecast was not to great for the weekend but it turned out not to bad, just LOTS of wind, and as per normal all on the nose. Saw 20-30mph all the way with a peak of about 34mph according to the GPS.

Turbulence and sink over the mountains were bad but not to bad, had a few occasions where the engine was running at 100%, the nose up with the plane at best rate of climb and still going down at 400 fpm, fortunately this never lasted for more than a few seconds and with a good reserve of height it was never a danger.

Here are a few photos of the trip, more will be published on my flying web page soon !



Doing some test flying at Port Edward Friday afternoon, the weather did not look promising !



Going on a hour long shakedown trip down the coast to get to know the plane.



Saturday morning dawned bright but a bit windy, after flying up the coast as far as possible the nose was pointed inland, this was the first stop at PMB to feed the thirsty 618 !



By the time Ladysmith was reached it was rather hot ! The guys there were very friendly and helpful, the plane and the body was fed here



Approach at Aero Heaven, a private strip in Harrismith, at this stage the wind was really pumping and the backside was hurting ! It was decided to spend the night here and hoping for less wind in the morning, it was really worth it, fantastic people and worth a visit (PM me for contact information!)



The RANS and a larger brother at Aero Heaven.



A very early departure from Aero Heaven, at least it was cool but again VERY windy with 30+mph on the nose !



Parked at Lekoa Lodge for breakfast, what a fantastic place to visit, but the wind was picking up.....



Getting close to home, mother nature and man's "works of art" !



Home at last, the RANS in front of her new home at Petit !

A few stats from the trip:

Total fuel consumed : 106L

The Rotax 618 was running at high settings (and rich as well according to the EGT readings) most of the time to combat the headwind, RPM varied from 5700 to 6400 depending on the situation (Red line 6800)

Total flying time taken (including a few sight seeing diversions) 5h40m

Indicated speed (cruise) varied from 80-95mph and ground speed from 58 to 83mph

Will I do it again ?

YES !!

Happy flying,
Regards,
Rudi

[Willie]

Wonderlik, mooi, pret, fantasties. Ek nou sommer jaloers. Ek is bly alles het goed verloop en baie dankie vir die verslag en fotos. Ek sal graag meer wil weet van die 618 Rotax. Gideon stel belang in een maar is afgeraai om dit te koop vir sy Mizer.
Groete
Willie

[Rudix]

Wonderlik, mooi, pret, fantasties. Ek nou sommer jaloers. Ek is bly alles het goed verloop en baie dankie vir die verslag en fotos. Ek sal graag meer wil weet van die 618 Rotax. Gideon stel belang in een maar is afgeraai om dit te koop vir sy Mizer.
Groete
Willie

Hi Willie !

Dankie, ja, dit was regtig lekker ! Nou kan ek nie wag vir die volgende lang trip nie, moet net eers dikker kussings op daai sitplekke sit !

Ek het al 'n hele paar uur agter (en voor?) 'n Rotax 618, en ook al een noodlanding. (lees meer hier: http://zu-avb.hopto.org/Stories/zu-xaf.htm) Ek dink as mens die engin reg behandel is hy pragting, dieselfde gewig as 'n 582 maar 10hp meer. Hy hou daarvan om te rev, volgens Rotax moet jy jou prop stel om 6500 op die grond te kry, as jy laer rev dan laai jy hom te veel en dis baie sleg. Ek dink dis waar baie ouens die fout maak en die 618 het 'n slegte reputasie gekry as gevolg daarvan en dis een van die redes hoekom Rotax hom van die mark gevat het.

Hier is 'n link met inligting oor die 618.

http://zu-avb.hopto.org/618_specs.htm

Ek dink hy sal baie lekker werk op 'n Miser !

Groete,
Rudi

[Dre'man]

Congrats, I spent the morning doing Solo circuits and enjoyed it........................until now that is when jelousy set in.

I am glad you enjoyed it and could report back with an exciting story and a happy ending.

[The Agent]

Vertel net meer Rudi is jou licence al klaar en het jy self gevlieg , dis net dat ek nie weet nie.

Ek wou nog vanoggend by julle kom land toe is ek eers Fly Inn toe en to terug na Rhino.

[John Young]

Hope to see a few of the microlighters.co.za along the way, I have a few numbers so some might get a call

Think that I will go to bed now - spent the whole weekend awake waiting for your call.

Joking - Nice one Rudi - Congrats - Meet you next time.

Regards (to TK as well)
John ZU-CIB